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Keeping History Alive




2024 March: September 25-October 7, 2024.


The 2024 March schedule is in the planning stage. Check occasionally for updates.

The 2024 March will celebrate the 50th annual march beginning in 1975. There are special activities being planned to commemorate this big event.


2023 March Schedule



Every person participating on the March must sign the OVTA Lability Wavier and Code of Conduct Form and attend a safety briefing.

Anyone firing a firelock at any OVTA event must have the OVTA Blackpowder training.

Anyone firing a firelock at Cowpens and Kings Mountain NP must also have taken the OVTA Blackpowder training.

Meals on your own unless otherwise indicated.

 Following is a day-by-day schedule of the reenactment including a short description of each day’s walk, logistics and planned activities. Last minute changes to the schedule will likely occur so please be patient when that happens.

 Trail walking information is a separate document and can be found on the OVTA website. The trail information is a work in progress and needs a lot of updating. Information for the updates is being collected.

 This year’s March Officers are:

Grand Marshall                     David Doan     423-366-8091  daviddoan@hotmail.com

Trail Marshall                        Tom Vaughn    423-366-8639  tpvaughan@aol.com

Director of Interpretations    Steve Ricker    423-278-0439  primitivetrails@gmail.com

Safety Officer                         Jane Doan        423-366-8092

Safety Officer                         Dalton Wade    423-620-8297

Ordinance                              Mel McKay      423-930-5552

Wilkes/Surry Marshall           R G Absher      336-902-1760 

Marion Marshall                    John Garrou

Morganton Marshall             Bryant Lindsey


2023 March Schedule

 

Revised 9/17/2023

 

Saturday, September 16

 

10:00am-5:00pm           OVTA Day: Kings Mountain: The Overmountain Men Story            Rocky Mount State Historic Site

 

Sunday, September 17

 

2:00pm                                     Campbell gravesite service

Following Campbell service       Brody gravesite service

 

Monday, September 18

 

9:00am-2:00pm                        Abingdon Call to Arms             Muster Grounds Abingdon, VA

 

Tuesday, September 19

 

9:00am-2:00pm                        Abingdon Call to Arms             Muster Grounds Abingdon, VA

 

Wednesday, September 20

 

9:00am-2:00pm                        Abingdon Call to Arms             Muster Grounds Abingdon, VA

 

Friday, September 22

 

8:30am-11:30am                       Sullivan East Middle School program

6:00pm-8:00pm                        The Parting Shots @ “The Tavern” (NPS)          The Tavern restaurant, Abingdon, VA

Saturday, September 23

 

10:00am                       Fort Watauga Muster                            Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park

10am, 1pm, 4pm           Guided Hikes (NPS)                              Muster Grounds, Abingdon, VA

6:00pm                         The Night Before                                  Muster Grounds Abingdon, VA

           

Sunday, September 24

 

Col William Campbell and his men leave the Muster Grounds. Col Shelby & Col Sevier’s men head toward Fort Watauga

 

 

10:00am                       Fort Watauga Muster                            Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park

10:00am                       Muster Grounds Muster                         Muster Grounds Abingdon, VA

2:00pm                         Muster Grounds Ceremony                    Muster Grounds Abingdon, VA

2:00pm                         Constitution Week Bell Ringing            Bogart Bowman Cabin

6:00pm                         Rocky Mount Public Program                Rocky Mount

 

Encamp:Rocky Mount                         Actual: Ft Womack

 

 

The Gathering

 

Monday, September 25

 

Col’s Campbell, Shelby, and Sevier and their men arrive at Fort Watauga

 

2:00pm                                     Watauga River crossing                                     Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park

Following river crossing            “Campaign to Kings Mountain” public program Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park

Following public program          Jerry Mustin memorial service                           Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park

 

Encamp: Sycamore Shoals                   Actual: Sycamore Shoals (Fort Watauga)

 

The March Begins

 

Tuesday, September 26

 

The Overmountain Men leave Fort Watauga heading toward Shelter Rock/Resting Place looking for Major Patrick Fergusson

 

11:00am                       Rev Doak                                 Sycamore Shoals            Elizabethton, TN

9:00am                         Walk Yellow Mountain             Meet at Roan Mountain Community Park

6:00pm                         Roan Mountain program & music (Virginia Boys)          Roan Mountain Community Park

 

Encamp: Roan Mountain Community Park        Actual: Shelving Rock/Resting Grounds

 

Wednesday, September 27

 

The Overmountain Men cross Roan Mountain at Yellow Mountain Gap, drill and roll call, find two men are missing

Col Cleveland and his men leave Wilkes Surry

 

9:00am                         Sibelco School Day and Sevier gravesite

6:00pm                         Orchard at Altapass meal and program

 

Encamp:Apple Orchard           Actual: Roaring Creek  

 

Thursday, September 28

 

The Men continue along trail

 

9:00am             Carson House Living School Day                       Carson House

 

Encamp:Carson House             Actual: Grassy Creek  

 

 

Friday, September 29

 

The Overmountain Men divide into two groups to follow the two trails (North Cove & Turkey Cove) off the mountain

 

5:00pm                         Guided Hike (NPS)                   Visitor Center, Lake James State Park

6:00pm                         Patty Creek evening program

 

Encamp: Patty Creek Visitor Center/Campground                     Actual: North Cove & Turkey Cove

 

 

Saturday, September. 30 

 

The two groups join back together and camp at Quaker Meadows, Wilkes Surry Militia under Col Ben Cleveland join the Overmountain Men at Quaker Meadows

 

10am, 1pm                   Guided Hike (NPS)       Visitor Center, Lake James State Park

1:00pm-5:00pm             Living History Day       McDowell House, Morganton, NC

 

Encamp: Patty Creek Visitor Center/Campground        Actual: Quaker Meadows

 

Sunday, October 1

 

The combine Militia head toward Gilbertown crossing the Catawba River, heavy rain begins, camp at Bedford Hills

 

11:00am                       Sunday Church service              Quaker Meadows Presbyterian Church

12:00pm                       Guided Bike Ride (NPS)            Catawba Greenway, Morganton, NC

2:00pm                         Monument dedication & River crossing (actual date)      Greenlee Ford, Morganton, NC

 

Encamp: Lucky Strike Campground or Scout Camp       Actual: Bedford Hills

 

Monday, October 2

 

Heavy rain continues, Overmountain Men remain in camp, officers elect Col Campbell as overall commander

 

Pond Mountain

 

Encamp: Lucky Strike Campground      Actual: Bedford Hills

 

Tuesday, October 3

 

Militia head toward Gilbertown

 

9:00am                         Wilkes School Day                    Wilkes Heritage Museum

4:30pm                         Guide Hike (NPS)                     Purple Mountain Trail

6:00pm                         Rutherfordton program              Kiwanis Park

 

Encamp: Church next to Kiwanis Park? (Scout Camp backup)    Actual: Marlins Knob

 

Wednesday, October 4

 

Arrive at Gilbertown, Ferguson is gone

 

9:00am                         Elkin School Day          Elkin Municipal Park

7:00-8:00am                 Breakfast by DAR         Rutherfordton Scout Cabin

8:50am                        Golbert School Day       Gilbert Town

4:30pm                         Guided Hike (NPS)       Alexanders Ford

Gray’s Chapel public evening program               Gray’s Chapel

 

Encamp: Grays Chapel             Actual: Gilbertown

 

 

Thursday, October 5

 

The Militia head southwest and camp at Alexander’s Ford on the Green River. They learn from scouts that Ferguson is marching toward Charlotte Town and the protection of Cornwallis’s army.

                                                 

7:00am                         Breakfast                                  Pleasant Hill Church

9:00am                         Polk County School Program     Gray’s Chapel/ Alexanders Ford

 

Encamp: Cherokee Co History & Arts Museum             Actual: Alexanders Ford

 

Friday, October 6

 

The Militia head toward Cowpens and join with militia from South Carolina, Georgia and Lincoln Co., NC.

At 9 pm militia of best 900 men leave in pouring rain and head toward Kings Mountain

 

TBA

4:00pm                         Cherokee Ford Trail hike (NPS event)                Wolf Den Lane, Gaffney, SC

5:00pm                         Guided Walk (NPS)                                          Cowpens National Battlefield

6:00pm                        The Night before Kings Mountain program        Cowpens National Battlefield

 

Encamp: Cherokee Co History & Arts Museum             Actual: Cowpens

 

Saturday, October 7

 

Before 3 pm militia arrive at Kings Mountain and battle begins at 3 pm

 

TBA                             Possible side trip               Gaffney, SC area

8:30am (tentative)         Guided Hike “The Patriot Advance” (NPS)         Kings Mountain National Park

11:00am                       Wreath Laying Ceremony          Kings Mountain National Military Park.

2:15pm                         Meet at the Visitor’s Center to prepare for March finale

3:00pm                         Walk into the amphitheater at Kings Mountain NMP for traditional ceremony.

7:00pm                         Candle tours                             Kings Mountain National Military Park

 

Encamp: Kings Mountain         Actual: Kings Mountain

 

 

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